“Tell me, Taylor, what’s it really like...fucking a bitch?” Aldrich stepped closer and laughed darkly when Ryne shifted so he was in front of Melody. “Don’t worry. I have no plans to do her...yet. Though it might be an interesting experience.”
The civilized veneer seemed to slip from the man’s face and he now reminded Ryne of some of the more unsavoury people his stepfather had associated with; thugs and petty criminals, ‘friends’ who would stab you in the back if the price were right. Hmm... It would appear there might be more to Aldrich than met the eye. Ryne stored the information away; it paid to know your enemy.
Aldrich played with the trigger of the gun, seeming to relish having someone under his power. His dark eyes narrowed as if gauging the response to his comments, looking for a reaction, a sign of fear.
Ryne wasn’t about to give the man the satisfaction and forcibly relaxed his muscles, assuming a careless pose. His forearm rested on his bent knee and he blinked at the man slowly, conveying the attitude that he was unimpressed with the other man’s posturing and rhetoric. “Are you through? This is really getting tedious.”
For a moment Aldrich’s face began to flush at the insult—Ryne cursed himself for not keeping his mouth shut—but then the moment passed. The man’s face cleared and the smooth cultivated tones of the successful lawyer reappeared. “I see you’re going to be difficult. Well, luckily time is on my side. Mr. Greyson won’t be back for a while, so I’ll be able to leave you two here to think things over. Possible when I return, you’ll be feeling more cooperative. Hand over your cell phone.” He waited with his hand extended and the gun at the ready. When Ryne finally complied, Aldrich nodded and left, bolting the door behind him.
Chapter 35
“Aldrich! Is that you? Dammit man, what the hell are you doing on my property?” The voice of Anthony Greyson boomed across the lawn, obviously startling the lawyer who had just exited the supposedly abandoned hut at the rear of the estate. To give the lawyer his due, he composed himself quickly but Greyson still had the satisfaction of knowing he’d caught the man off guard. His amusement faded though, as he pondered what possible excuse Aldrich might have for being where he shouldn’t be.
“Mr. Greyson, sir! I’m surprised to see you. I thought you’d be gone for a few more days.”
“I never said I was gone. Merely that I was incommunicado. There’s a difference, Leon. As a lawyer, you should know that.”
“I do, sir. It’s just that the reports stated—”
“I know all about your ‘eyes and ears’ that report my movements to you. But they only see and hear what I wish. I left, and as soon as they reported me gone, I returned.” The older man rocked back on his heels, secretly enjoying the flabbergasted look that briefly passed over the other man’s face before it disappeared behind a carefully schooled expression. Greyson loved playing mind games with those around him; people thought they could pull the wool over his eyes, that he was an old man in his dotage. Ha! He was sharper now than he’d ever been.
“I beg your pardon, sir. I never meant—”
“Don’t start boot-licking now, Aldrich. You watch me. I watch you. Neither of us got where we are today without hedging our bets. It’s smart business, even if it is damned impertinent of you.”
Aldrich nodded, but Greyson noted how the man’s eyes were assessing him. It appeared Leon might be getting too comfortable in his role, maybe even considering usurping his master. Well then, it was definitely time to consider a little shake up. He gave the lawyer a steely look. “Just remember I sign that pay cheque you’re so fond of, and no matter what you think you know about me, I know even more about you. If I wanted to make you squirm like a worm on a hook, I could.”
The lawyer didn’t even so much as blink, but Greyson was sure Aldrich’s busy mind was wondering exactly how much his employer really knew about certain past indiscretions. Good, let him sweat a bit. People got too damned complacent; they needed to be kept on their toes.
“A worm on a hook, sir? Not a pretty picture. I’ll certainly do my best to avoid inciting such a circumstance.”
Greyson guffawed before turning serious. “Your attempts at humour are pathetic, but even still, you amuse me. Now, why are you here? I believe my orders were quite specific. All non-essential staff were to be off the estate for five days. Last time I looked, you weren’t essential to the running of this place. Explain yourself.”
“I was checking on the state of the safe room. Ensuring it was up to date and in running order in case you ever need it, Mr. Greyson.”